QCOSTARICA — Before his possible early departure from the Presidency to run for a legislative seat in the 2026 elections, President Rodrigo Chaves blamed the legislators for the tense relationship between the Executive Branch (Government) and the Legislative Power.
The president pointed the finger away from himself during a special press conference on Thursday, in which he announced five resignations from his current Cabinet.
One of these resignations was that of the Minister of the Presidency, Laura Fernández, who a day earlier held firm in the Government’s plan to toughen penalties on abortion.
– Advertisement –
Read more: Government of Costa Rica proposes changes to toughen penalties for abortion
Although her time in that ministry was brief, Fernández faced ongoing scrutiny and criticism related to ethics, morals, and politics.
Throughout these 7 months, legislators questioned Fernández’s poor capacity for dialogue and negotiation to achieve consensus around important bills for the country.
She was also questioned, like President Chaves, for her lack of respect for the independence of powers and the institutionality of the country.
Chaves assured that he will consider the decision of a replacement, valuing the relationship he currently has with the Legislative Assembly, which is not the best.
Asked about what he should analyze to appoint the new head of the Ministry of the Presidency, Chaves replies: “I think that the legislators are wrong once again. (…) It takes two to dance. The double talk of the Legislative Assembly has been clear, it has been obvious.”
– Advertisement –
“Yes, there is little dialogue, but look into your hearts (…) Yes, there has been no dialogue, the cold is not in the blankets, it is their fault, I tell you clearly,” he stressed.
Chaves criticized the decision of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) bench to oppose voting on any project of the Executive, as long as they did not allocate 9.3 billion colones for new hiring in the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) – Judicial Investigation Agency.
He added that Laura Fernandez’s work had difficulties and that “she is a great negotiator” in response to the position of some legislators who disagree about the work of the now ex-minister.
“I have to think very carefully about what I want, what the Government wants. They have portrayed themselves in full (on the decision of the PLN bench).”
– Advertisement –
These are the cabinet changes announced by Rodrigo Chaves on Thursday:
- Anna Katharina Müller: resigns as Minister of Education (MEP)
- Mauricio Batalla: resigns as as Minister of Transportation and Public Works (MOPT)
- Osvaldo Artavia: resigns as Minister the Instituto Desarollo Rural (Inder)
- Francisco Gamboa: resigns as Minister of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC)
- Laura Fernández: resigns as Minister of the Presidency
Chaves announced four new appointments to fill the positions of the outgoing ministers, save for the new Minister of the Presidency.
At the end of his press conference, President Rodrigo Chaves said that “the best is yet to come” and “this year is going to be fun and interesting.”
– Advertisement –
Source link
Rico
